Sens try to hold off Habs

Ottawa Senators Nick Foligno celebrates a goal by teammate Mike Fisher (not pictured) in front of Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Ottawa, October 14, 2010. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie)

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Oct 16, 2010

, Last Updated: 12:34 PM ET

The Ottawa Senators are coming off their first win of the 2010-11 season and will try to keep moving in the right direction tonight when they visit the rival Montreal Canadiens for a Northeast Division battle at the Bell Centre.

Ottawa began the year with an 0-2-1 mark, but were able to post a close win Thursday against visiting Carolina. Mike Fisher scored the game-winning goal on the power play late in the third period to lift the Senators to a 3-2 win over the Hurricanes.

Fisher also scored in the first period and Milan Michalek added a goal for the Senators, who will try to earn a point for the third straight game tonight. Ottawa lost in overtime to Washington prior to its game against Carolina.

"It felt good to get the win in our building, and hopefully we can follow this up and continue to get better," said Fisher.

Thursday's victory did not come without a cost, however, as Ottawa starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire left several minutes into the game with a groin injury. Brian Elliott finished with 19 saves and will get the start tonight. Leclaire, who had started Ottawa's first four games, is expected to miss at least one week of action.

Senators forward Nick Foligno, meanwhile, was fined $2,500 by the NHL for his illegal check on Carolina's Patrick Dwyer in the third period of Thursday's game. The league said Foligno "delivered a shoulder check from the blind side that made primary contact with Dwyer's head". The incident did not draw a penalty and Dwyer was not injured on the play.

Tonight marks the first of three straight on the road for the Sens, who have yet to win in two away games this season.

Montreal is coming off a victory in Buffalo on Friday night. Josh Gorges scored what proved to be the game-winning goal late in the second period to help lift the Canadiens to a 2-1 win over the Sabres at HSBC Arena. The game marked the 40th anniversary of Buffalo's first home game.

Alexandre Picard also helped spoil the Sabres' celebration, scoring the other goal for the Habs. Carey Price needed to make only 22 saves in the win, as Montreal notched just its second regulation win in its last 11 games in Buffalo.

"Our guys played really well tonight, we played an excellent system game tonight," Price said.

This evening's tilt is the first of two straight on home ice for the Canadiens, who were dealt an OT loss by Tampa Bay in their only game as the host this season. The Habs will also welcome New Jersey to the Bell Centre on Thursday.

Ottawa won five of six against the Canadiens last year and has taken seven of the last eight meetings in the series. The clubs have split the last eight encounters in Montreal.